Lakers Put Together Strong 2023 NBA Draft Class

Los Angeles, relative to the range of their selections, came aways as one of the winners on draft night 2023.

The Lakers were thought to have had a type prior to the draft.

Primarily, most thought they were looking for not only an infusion of win-now talent, but specifically shooters that would help space the floor for stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis off-ball in year one.

Los Angeles pivoted, though, grabbing surprise one-and-done point guard Jalen Hood-Schifino out of Indiana at No. 17 and mid-major standout Maxwell Lewis out of Pepperdine at No. 40.

That’s not to say both players won’t be immediate contributors, but Hood-Schifino’s drafting could be one that favors the future much more than the present.

At 6-foot-6 with solid two-way ability and some elite-level pick-and-roll navigation, the former Hoosier projects to be a strong jumbo lead guard option down the line. Something that will only help the 2023-24 iteration of the Lakers sparingly. He won’t be a potent floor-spacer — just 33% on 3.5 attempts with Indiana — but he should add plenty in the ways of stout defense and size early on.

During the 2023 draft cycle, Lewis had been mocked as high as the lottery prior to conference play, meaning his fall to the forties was a long one. But the upside is still obviously there as a 6-foot-7 creator with strong floor-spacing and defensive capabilities. He could offer some of what most experts thought the team would grab in the first round.

Regardless, Los Angeles acted of their own accord on draft night, grabbing some potentially strong future pieces that could blossom into real stars. And it left the organization with one of the better classes of the cycle.

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